[Assam] Konhua-ful---"Saccharum spontaneum"

Mon Apr 28 08:02:24 PDT 2008

>"Saccharum spontaneum" is a misnomer--"

*** There may be an element of truth to that too. Often one can find 
that there is more than one botanical/biological name ( or even 
English/Hindi/other vernacular language names) to a plant/ biological 
specimen; particularly if it is a rare or unusual or not so widely 
occurring one. Botanical names of most plants in the Indian 
sub-continent were assigned by various European botanists. Many early 
names were revised by other botanists later, or disputed or assigned 
synonymous names.

Therefore we have to remain open to the idea that any particular name 
we come across as THE botanical name may NOT be the final word on it. 
Echites frutescens  is a good example.

Botanical and even English names of a number of orchids from our 
region similarly are disputed, doubted, re-named and so forth; 
besides having more than one such name. Even Oxomiya names vary from 
region to region within Assam.  A good example, again is 'bhedai 
lotaa', 'bhedeli-lotaa' and so forth.

Finally I am curious about  what was suggested as the correct 
botanical name of 'konhua' (BTW it is not 'kohua'---which in Assamese 
means 'one who suffers from chronic coughing').  We can look that up 
and see if that too is a 'correct' name.

Had  I not looked 'konhua' up, I would have thought it is Pampas 
grass (Cortaderia selloana),
see:  http://www.thegardenhelper.com/pixpg/pampaspix.html

At 12:25 PM +0530 4/28/08, Uddipana Goswami wrote:
>that is indeed kohua. in which case, my botanist-poet friend who said
>"Saccharum spontaneum" is a misnomer needs to be informed. thanks for
>pointing this out to me. i had used it as a footnote in a poem i had
>translated from axamiya. my apologies also to mr. chaliha.
>
>
>
>On Sun, Apr 27, 2008 at 11:03 PM, Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net> wrote:
>
>>  At 11:11 AM +0530 4/26/08, Uddipana Goswami wrote:
>>  >i wouldn't trust mr chaliha's dictionary with botanical names - it has
>>  >proved to be incorrect on many instances - the botanical name for 'kohua'
>>  >for example.
>>
>>
>>
>>  *** It is entirely possible that a non-scientific dictionary may
>>  contain errors on scientific terminology. So I always cross check
>>  with other sources, if it is anything unusual or not a commonly known
>>  name.
>>
>>  But I have always found Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx to be extremely
>>  helpful in finding English or botanical/biological names for flora
>>  and fauna of Assam. In this instance--of 'bhedai-lotaa', I could not
>>  find anything in any of the other reference sources that I have,
>>  including the fairly comprehensive "Oxomor Gos-gosoni, Part 1" by
>>  Ananda Dutta, that would have led me to its botanical name, much less
>>  to names in other languages, had it not been for Aadhunik Oxomiya
>>  Xobdokwx.
>>
>>  I looked up "konhua" in Aadhunik Oxomiya Xobdokwx . It says the
>>  botanical name is: Saccharum spontaneum, which when I looked up in
>>  Google showed :
>>
>>
>> 
>>http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/Images/saccharum.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.celestine-india.com/pankajoudhia/po_gall.htm&h=108&w=68&sz=6&tbnid=-9Dm_8PULS0J:&tbnh=108&tbnw=68&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSaccharum%2Bspontaneum%2Bphotos&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=1&ct=image&cd=2
>>
>>
>>  Which is exactly what 'konhua' is, as could be seen in my photo
>>  attached here. What I did I miss?
>>
>>  cm
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 7:04 PM, DR BIKASH KUMAR DAS <biku006 at yahoo.co.in
>>  >
>>  >wrote:
>>  >
>>  >>  Dear DR. Deepak Shah,
>>  >>   Welcome to this site. More welcome is your introduction in detail. WE
>>  all
>>  >>  are assamese/North East Indian from this heavenly GLOBE. The plant is
>>  BHEDEI
>>  >>  LATA grown anywhere in the NE.Yes its a medicinal plant.There are
>>  thousands
>>  >>  of medicinal plant.
>>  >>   Will give you details soon as soon as you intorduce to know more
>>  about
>>  >>  you please.
>>  >>   Sincere regards.
>  > >>
>>  >>   Bikash Kumar Das
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  "Dr. Deepak Shah" <d.shah57 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>  >>             Dear Friends,
>>  >>  I had got your email address from AsamNet.com and I understand that
>>  you
>>  >>  reside in Assam.
>>  >>  Well, I actually am writing this email because I need some help from
>>  you.
>>  >>  I wish to know a Hindi name of the plant known as Bhedelilot in local
>>  NE
>>  >>  lingo. This plant is widely available in NE region and is also known
>>  to have
>>  >>  medicinal importance.
>>  >>  I am doing my research on medicinal plants and is listing it and will
>>  >>  publish it consolidated over WWW with its application and use which
>>  can help
>>  >>  people worldwide.
>>  >>  In hope of your help, awaiting your response.
>>  >>
>>  >>  Regards,
>>  >>  Deepak Shah
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>
>>  >>  ---------------------------------
>>  >>   Download prohibited? No problem. CHAT from any browser, without
>>  download.
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>>  >
>>  >
>>  >
>>  >--
>>  >Uddipana Goswami
>>  >www.jajabori-mon.blogspot.com
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>
>
>
>--
>Uddipana Goswami
>www.jajabori-mon.blogspot.com
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